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00:00 Are you ready to unlock the power of the quantum realm?
00:03 You've heard it mentioned on the news.
00:05 You've seen it crop up on the internet.
00:07 You've felt a growing sense of anticipation around what's being widely tipped as a
00:12 life-changing technological feat.
00:14 And you don't want to get left behind.
00:16 So, what exactly is quantum computing?
00:19 What do those two words, when put together, actually mean?
00:22 And how will your life change once you embrace what's coming?
00:26 This is Unveiled, and today we're taking a closer look at precisely how quantum computing
00:32 works.
00:33 Do you need the big questions answered?
00:36 Are you constantly curious?
00:37 Then why not subscribe to Unveiled for more clips like this one?
00:40 And ring the bell for more thought-provoking content!
00:43 Welcome to the mind-bending world of quantum computing, where your once-traditional digital
00:48 bits can now exist in multiple states at once.
00:51 And seemingly impossible computations can now be performed at seriously unimaginable
00:56 speeds.
00:57 If you're still dwelling in the comparatively slow, sticky, soon-to-be-antiquated time of
01:02 classical computing - which most of us are, just at the moment - then listen up, because
01:06 here's how the world is soon going to change.
01:09 In today's video, we're taking a journey through the ever-growing quantum landscape…
01:14 but with future technology particularly in mind.
01:16 We'll unravel the early mysteries of quantum computing, exploring its basics, the breakthroughs
01:22 so far, the incredible future predictions, and also the ethical considerations that come
01:27 with such revolutionary ideas.
01:29 So, let's get to it!
01:31 First off, the basics.
01:33 The first thing you need to know is that quantum computing is built around qubits.
01:37 These are the quantum versions of traditional "bits of information", as used in classical
01:41 computing systems.
01:43 Imagine a classical computer as a reliable office worker.
01:46 They're always on time, they rarely let you down, they've probably earned their fair
01:51 share of Employee of the Month awards.
01:54 What that office worker does is process information through a series of yes-or-no questions, represented
02:00 as bits - or zeros and ones.
02:02 And, to cut a long comparison short, this does allow them to get quite a lot done reasonably
02:08 efficiently.
02:09 It's just that there are limits.
02:12 Limits in terms of time, speed, and there are some calculations that our office worker,
02:17 the classical computer, just can't do.
02:19 With the advent of quantum computing, though, all those limits are being well and truly
02:24 bypassed.
02:25 Quantum computing introduces a new player to the game - the quantum bit, or qubit.
02:30 And the key difference is that, unlike with classical bits, qubits can exist in a state
02:35 of zero, one, or both simultaneously, thanks to the underlying principles of quantum superposition.
02:42 Immediately, then, there are significantly - perhaps infinitely - more possibilities
02:47 with the qubit, meaning more information held and processed.
02:51 To return to our office worker comparison, the qubit is what it would be like if our
02:55 classical worker were to suddenly learn how to duplicate themselves.
02:59 Now, that worker could do way more than just their own usual tasks.
03:03 They could perhaps run whole departments, whole floors, maybe even entire buildings
03:08 and businesses single-handedly… because there's the potential for variations of
03:13 them.
03:14 Which, ultimately, is why people have been getting quite excited about quantum computing.
03:18 If it works well, it'll dramatically save time, cut costs, and improve output all at
03:24 once.
03:25 Here, the phrase "quantum leap" actually isn't overstating it.
03:28 It really could be a colossal game-changer.
03:30 So, how did we get to this point?
03:33 Because it's not as though the qubit just arrived unannounced.
03:36 Quantum computing may sound like a concept from the distant future, but its roots go
03:40 back to the early 1980s, when physicists, including Richard Feynman, first proposed
03:46 the idea of simulating quantum systems as seen in general physics, but in a technological
03:51 way - through quantum computers.
03:54 Significant milestones in the time since include Peter Shor's algorithm in 1994, which demonstrated
04:00 the potential for quantum computers to factor large numbers exponentially faster than classical
04:05 computers ever could.
04:07 And then, in the early 21st century, researchers like Google, IBM, and Rigetti began developing
04:13 better and better processors under this new and growing strategy.
04:17 Google's "quantum supremacy" announcement in 2019 marked another pivotal moment, with
04:22 quantum supremacy alluding to the moment when a quantum computer achieved something that
04:26 a classical computer never could.
04:29 It was claimed that Google's quantum processor, Sycamore, could perform a particular calculation
04:34 in two hundred seconds… the really impressive thing being that it would've reportedly
04:39 taken the most powerful of traditional supercomputers more than ten thousand years to complete the
04:44 same task.
04:45 If the watching world hadn't yet believed in the power of quantum computing before then,
04:50 they did afterwards.
04:51 It hasn't been all plain sailing, but we have already seen some major fixes, as well.
04:57 Since 2020, especially, there's been an industry-wide focus on correcting errors in
05:01 quantum computations and on solving specific optimization problems, all with the end goal
05:07 of building the most efficient final products possible.
05:10 But, and perhaps most interestingly of all, in 2021, the Chinese satellite MISEUS (officially
05:17 named "Quantum Experiments at Space Scale") was used to demonstrate actual teleportation
05:23 at the quantum level.
05:24 More than just a science fiction superpower, though, this could soon ensure smoother-than-smooth,
05:29 instant quantum communication.
05:31 It may take a few years for the real-world applications to reveal themselves, but when
05:35 they do, it could, again, prove a major turning point.
05:39 Such breakthroughs and more serve to showcase the transformative potential of this technology
05:44 in general, and at a mind-blowing pace.
05:47 In just a few short years, we've seen quantum computing not only emerge in the mainstream,
05:53 but systematically correct itself, connect itself and perfect itself for optimum output.
05:58 And in all of those cases, the performance is only set to get better and better.
06:03 These are computers, then, with an effectively bottomless pit of processing and energy potential.
06:07 Glitches, freezes and crashes could all soon be forgotten annoyances of the past, while
06:13 our already reasonably fast speeds should dramatically improve as well.
06:17 In the next decade or so, it's expected that we'll see the creation of increasingly
06:21 more robust and error-tolerant quantum processors.
06:24 And the key development here is that, when it's reliable and eventually affordable,
06:29 quantum computing should also be made accessible to a broader audience.
06:33 Sectors like finance, healthcare and logistics are all likely to benefit from optimised quantum
06:37 algorithms, solving complex problems that were once deemed impractical or even impossible
06:43 for classical computers.
06:44 In finance, this means literally instant banking, and could also prove the final nail for physical
06:49 cash.
06:50 Meanwhile, it might have some further, unforeseen consequences in the real-time running of the
06:55 stock market.
06:56 In health, quantum computing should mean safer-than-ever critical care.
07:00 But the greatest effects may yet come in research, with developers and physicians perhaps able
07:05 to experiment faster and further than ever before, testing the effectiveness of drugs,
07:10 cures and novel treatments within days, hours, even within moments.
07:15 In logistics, quantum computing might one day enable truly reliable public transport
07:20 down to milliseconds.
07:22 As well as always and unbreakably on smart cities - the like of which we've seen begin
07:27 to take shape in the twenty-first century.
07:30 Climate modelling, personalised medicine, energy optimisation, universe mapping - all
07:35 could benefit from this new means of information power.
07:38 We're likely to see a quantum butterfly effect ripple across basically all fields.
07:43 Although perhaps none more so than with AI.
07:46 The integration of quantum algorithms with artificial intelligence may birth another
07:50 new era of machine learning, allowing for unprecedented advancements in natural language
07:56 processing, image recognition and decision-making.
07:59 To today's mind, there may be nothing that a quantum robot can't do.
08:03 Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, there are some concerns about what's coming as well.
08:07 For example, with privacy.
08:09 While it can revolutionise encryption methods, rendering current standards obsolete, there
08:14 are fears that quantum computing will also pose a threat to data; that it could easily
08:18 crack all or most existing cryptographic systems, potentially compromising sensitive information.
08:24 Meanwhile, there's also that now ever-present anxiety of breaching the so-called AI singularity
08:30 - when machines surpass human capabilities.
08:34 Quantum computing is sure to fast-track that.
08:36 And finally, there's the potential for wealth disparities.
08:40 Access to this technology may create a new digital divide, with only well-funded individuals,
08:45 corporations and research institutions having the means to fully harness it.
08:49 For everyone else, it may for a long time prove little more than a fun trend or gimmick.
08:54 Striking a balance between widening access and ensuring responsible use will be crucial
08:59 to prevent worsening existing inequalities.
09:02 While the future could be pitched as a quantum minefield, however, perhaps it's fairer
09:06 to view it more positively, as the quantum frontier.
09:09 Right now, we're seemingly on the brink of unparalleled computing power, transformative
09:14 technologies, and, hopefully, life-enhancing innovations.
09:18 How do you think history will remember this next tech revolution?
09:22 What do you think we need to do to ensure that quantum products are responsibly developed
09:26 for the betterment of humanity?
09:28 And is there one area in particular in which you foresee huge change on the horizon?
09:34 As for now, that's how quantum computing works.
09:38 What do you think?
09:39 Is there anything we missed?
09:40 Let us know in the comments, check out these other clips from Unveiled, and make sure you
09:44 subscribe and ring the bell for our latest content.